George Washington held the office of the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797, establishing many constitutional practices and federal precedents. He established the president's cabinet, defended executive authority, and used the veto for the first time; his neutrality policy during the French Revolutionary Wars and leadership during the Whiskey Rebellion also shaped early U.S. governance. He supported Hamiltonian programs, contributed to establishing the nation's capital site, and led the Bill of Rights' early implementation. He directed the Northwest Indian War and won the Jay Treaty and the Treaty of San Lorenzo, strengthening frontier security. The Navy re-emerged under the Naval Act of 1794 to protect commerce.